The Kings Clinch First Place
Red Deer, February 11, 2023 – The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Volleyball team end their season on a high note with another straight-set victory. This time it was against the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves.
It was a tight first set with both teams coming out of the gate ready to fight for that final win of the season. Wolves setter Lane Matthew had a huge single block on the outside as he stuffed Kings Colby Nemeth (Bachelor of Commerce) for the point. Following this huge block, the Kings would string together four straight points and go on a run which forced the Wolves to call a timeout. Following the short break, the Wolves would string together not one, not two but three big digs to pick up a point to stay within striking distance of the Kings. These two teams would need extra points as it was deadlocked at 24 but after the Wolves were called for being on the net, the Kings would take the first set 26-24.
Hustle was evident from the Kings Volleyball team as they were all over the court, even on the other side of the net to save the ball and the rally, which paid off as they would pick up the point on the play. This energy moved forward into their offense which put the Kings up by five as they went into a timeout called by the Wolves. Moments later, the Wolves showed off their hustling abilities and came up with multiple returns in all different corners of the court which paid off for them as they came up with the point on the play. Unfortunately for them, the Kings would take the second set 25-16 after local native Spencer Purdie's second kill of the match out of the middle.
It was a great start to the third set for the Wolves as they found themselves on the right side of an 8-3 lead as they went into a timeout called by the Kings. But out of the timeout, right-side Brett Lower came out with a huge kill to send his teammates into a frenzy on the court. The Kings would slowly crawl back into the set with some small runs which put pressure on the Wolves and diminished their lead to two. RDP would take their first lead of the set which was at a crucial point during the game as the Wolves are fighting to stay in this match. A huge key to their lead takeover was thanks to Lower as he really had his spin serve down and on point during the late stages of the set. The Kings would take the third set 25-22 and win the match in three straight sets.
The Wolves player of the game went to outside-hitter Joshua Watson who finished his regular season with six kills and two aces. In his last regular season match in the ACAC, setter Maddux Greves (Business Administration) was named the Kings player of the game. He finished his night with 28 assists and seven digs.
The Wolves will wait to see who their opponent is as they will compete in the play-in games next weekend. As for the Kings, they will get a bye right to championship weekend as they finished in first place in the South Division.